CHARGERS: Garay in the middle of it all

SAN DIEGO -- The Indianapolis Colts made the colossal mistake of
thinking they could block Antonio Garay one-on-one. That decision
was made on an obvious passing situation during the third quarter
of last Sunday's game in Indianapolis.

Boy was it a bad one. On one play, the Chargers' nose tackle
pushed guard Jeffrey Linkenbach onto his heels, shoving him into
Peyton Manning with such force that the quarterback fell down.

The sack went to Shaun Phillips, the first defender to actually
touch the Colts' quarterback. That wasn't the first time Garay
didn't get recognized for his work. In the often thankless job of
nose tackle, it probably won't be the last.

"My friends talk about stats, but I know it's less about what I
do and more about what the team does," Garay said. "If I fill my
role and others do the same, we should be pretty damn good."

Garay has been winning his battles so often this season that his
work is showing up on tape and in the stat sheet. He has 43 tackles
-- seven for losses, including four sacks -- through 11 games. He
has plugged gaps while proving stout against the run and assertive
in the pass rush.

To truly appreciate Garay's accomplishment, you have to
understand the journey.

Garay was signed late last season after being out of the NFL
since a 2007 chop block broke his leg, shattered his ankle and
supposedly ended his career.

And Garay wasn't utilized much before that injury. In four NFL
seasons prior to joining the Chargers, Garay had played in just 14
games.

There was little cause to think his career would blossom even if
he could get healthy again.

"A lot of people told me to go get a job, but I chose to ignore
them," said Garay, 31. "I put all my eggs in one basket. I was
determined to get another shot."

Garay did earn a bachelor's degrees in English and marketing and
a master's in secondary education, so he had a foundation to start
a second career. He just didn't believe he was finished with the
first.

Garay kept working out. His agent made a website and posted
workout tapes on YouTube. He tried out for anyone with an NFL
connection.

That included an awkward tryout spent chasing teenagers as young
as 14 and trying to impress Judd Garrett, who had three sons
employed by the Dallas Cowboys and might put in a good word for
him.

"There are a lot more crazy stories than that," Garay said.
"Sure I had to go chase little kids around just to get recognized,
but I took a number of chances trying to prove myself and get my
foot in the door."

He had eight workouts over the course of a year. The
Indianapolis Colts, the team he pummeled last week, told him he
couldn't keep up with their practice tempo. The New York Jets gave
him several looks before finally signing him to the practice
squad.

But it was Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and line
coach Don Johnson who truly believed Garay was a diamond in the
rough.

"Don Johnson, (defensive backs coach) Steve Wilks and I were all
in Chicago when he was there (in 2006-07), and his athleticism was
undeniable," Rivera said. "He was a wrestler in high school and in
college, so he has great balance and therefore doesn't spend a lot
of time on the ground. He has tremendous strength and drive as
well. You combine those three elements and it provides the
foundation for a quality football player."

At the time, the Chargers were looking for a player to plug gaps
after longtime starter Jamal Williams was lost for the season with
injury. Garay has blossomed into so much more this season. And he
hasn't forgotten the people in his hometown of Rahway, N.J.

They supported him at his worst and encouraged him to keep his
football dreams alive, he said. Nearly 50 members of Garay's family
live there, and they travel West in droves for each Chargers game,
to share in the moment.

There are 25 coming in for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
They exuded positivity, a trait shared by Garay, who's thoroughly
enjoying his comeback.

"I'm having a great time," Garay said. "I was out for a while
with an injury that most people wouldn't have come back from. But I
stayed after it and fought through a lot of adversity to get
another chance. That's why I'm loving every moment."

To find out how to enter Garay's "Close Cut" haircut contest and
to win Chargers tickets, go to sportsblogs.nctimes.com